I was surprised at the reaction of US farm groups and state legislatures against the uncovering of widespread animal abuse by animal-rights activists ("Farm lobby gags animal activists", April 8).

Animal activists have done nothing but covertly videotape the treatment of animals by farm workers, leaking the footage only when abuse is apparent. They are not releasing corporate secrets or selling information.

However, many state legislatures in America have proposed banning covert videotaping and making applicants for farm jobs disclose ties to animal-rights groups. Most alarming is a proposal for an "animal and ecological terrorism act" that would place activists who take pictures of livestock to "defame the facility or its owner" on par with the terrorists behind the September 11 attacks.

The so-called "Ag-Gag" bills make it almost impossible for activists to continue their exposés of mistreatment, thereby allowing farmers the freedom to treat livestock as they see fit.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, a lobby group for the agricultural and meat industries, commented that some methods seen in the covert videos were "best practices", comparing those methods with open-heart surgery.

I know for certain that open-heart surgery is done for the well-being of the patient, and while the patient is sedated.

I fail to see how kicking pigs or burning horses with chemicals are in any way similar to delicate surgery, as the animals suffer terribly. The purpose of shameful actions are unclear.

I believe that animal abuse can only be defeated by the joint forces of the government, the food industry and their customers, and the public. I am greatly distressed that farm owners seem to support the maltreatment of livestock and are trying to prevent activists from accomplishing their goals.

William McCorkindale, Ma On Shan

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Absurd and obscene to compare animal activists to terrorists

Animal rights groups are cults bent on ending the eating of meat. They have nothing to do with animal welfare in that they start or perform the abuse and then hold the material until the authorities can no longer prove the abuse as the people who taped their own actions have moved on. These groups put all human beings at risk through their philosophy that we don't need to eat meat. However, they will not tell their followers that their brains require meat which is the only source of active VB12. Without active VB12 your brain becomes irrational and overly emotional. These laws do not prevent reporting of abuse, but in fact demand that they be turned over to authorities immediately not 6 months later after the animal rights groups have used them for their purposes. This immediate reporting helps the animals and prevents the animal cult groups from abusing the animals for their own purposes. Did you know that PeTA kills 98% of all animals they take in and these are healthy adoptable animals. Newkirk believes all domestic spec ies should be killed off.

chaz_hen Apr 15th 20139:40am

This just reinforces what is already known about the US: it's not a nation of the people and by the people but rather a nation of big business, their lawyers and the politicians they own.